Warden Message (02/11/2008)

WARDENS: Transmission of the following announcement by telephone is not mandatory.

Subject: Increases to U.S. Passport Fees and New Parental Signature Requirements for U.S. Minors

On February 1, 2008, the U.S. Government increased its fees for certain U.S. citizen passport services. For adult applicants renewing a passport, the total fee increased to $75. For first-time applicants age 16 and over, the total fee increased to $100. The fee for minors under 16 years of age is now $85.

Effective February 1, 2008, passport applicants who are U.S. citizen minors under the age of 16 must appear personally with their parents to establish identity, proof of citizenship and proof of relationship. For parental application permission, both parents must appear together and sign the application before a consular officer, or one parent may appear in person to sign and submit the other parent’s statement notarized in the United States or at a U.S. Embassy abroad, or one parent may appear, sign, and submit primary evidence of sole authority. Minors age 16 and 17 may apply in person with their own identification, but for security reasons, parental consent may be required. If your child does not have identification of his/her own, a parent will be required to accompany the child and present identification.

Please refer to the Department of State’s website at www.travel.state.gov for complete information on all new requirements, including downloadable revised forms that must be used as of February 1, and the U.S. Embassy website at http://damascus.usembassy.gov, for complete U.S. passport application instructions.

Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Embassy’s website http://damascus.usembassy.gov and the U.S. Department of State's travel website at www.travel.state.gov , where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found.  The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S. citizens to review "A Safe Trip Abroad," found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1747.html , which includes valuable security information for those both living and traveling abroad.  In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada, or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

Citizens traveling or residing in Syria are advised to register their presence in the country through the U.S. Department of State's automated online registration system, https://travelregistration.state.gov.  U.S. citizens may also contact the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy via e-mail at acsdamascus@state.gov or by calling 963-11-3391-4444. This complete message is available on the Embassy’s website at http://damascus.usembassy.gov.

The Consular Section of the Embassy is located in Abou-Roumaneh, Al Mansour Street, 2, between Rawda Square and Malki Street. The telephone number is (011) 3391-4444. Our Syrian mailing address is Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansour Street No. 2, P.O. Box 29, Damascus, Syria.

The regular hours of operation for American Citizen Services are from 8:00 am to 10:30 am from Sunday through Thursday EXCEPT for the last Thursday of every month, when the Consular Section will be entirely closed for training.

Services provided during these hours are: passport applications and renewals, notary services, child custody assistance, victim assistance, federal benefits claims, affidavits of support, arrest assistance and death certificates. American Citizens who wish to report a birth in Syria must either send an email to acsdamascus@state.gov or call the Embassy at (011)-3391-4444 to make an appointment to submit the necessary paperwork for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad and meet with a Consular Officer regarding the report of birth. Appointments will be made on a first come, first served basis.

Immigrant visa petition filings and general questions by American Citizens will continue to be accepted between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm from Sunday through Wednesday.

In the event of an emergency in which you need to contact the Consular Section at any time, call the Embassy telephone number (011) 3391-4444 and press "0." The district covered by the Consular Section in Damascus covers all of Syria.